Math is Figure-Out-Able!
Math teacher educator Pam Harris and her cohost Kim Montague answer the question: If not algorithms, then what? Join them for ~15-30 minutes every Tuesday as they cast their vision for mathematics education and give actionable items to help teachers teach math that is Figure-Out-Able. See www.MathisFigureOutAble.com for more great resources!
Math is Figure-Out-Able!
#MathStratChat - August 13, 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 13, 2025.
Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies.
Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation.
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Want more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!
Pam 0:01
Hey, fellow mathers! Welcome to the podcast where Math is Figure-Out-Able. I'm Pam Harris.
Kim 0:07
And I'm Kim Montague.
Pam 0:09
And this episode is a MathStratChat episode where we chat about our math strategies. Every Wednesday evening, I throw out a math problem on social media, and people from around the world chat about the strategies they use and comment on each other's thinking.
Kim 0:21
Okay, so on Wednesday, our math problem was if two thirds is one-half of a number. What is one-fourth of that same number? Go ahead and pause the podcast. Solve it however you'd like, and then come back to hear how we will solve the problem. Problem again is if two thirds is one-half of a number, what is one-fourth of that same number?
Pam 0:42
Okay, you want to go first?
Kim 0:44
Sure.
Pam 0:44
Okay.
Kim 0:46
So,
Kim 0:46
I noticed that it has two-thirds is one half of a number, so some number. And then if it's asking, now, instead of a half, it's asking for a fourth of that number.
Pam 0:58
Mmhm.
Kim 0:58
Then, I need half as much as two-thirds. So, a fourth is a half of a half, so I want half of the two-thirds, which is 1/3.
Pam 1:07
Cool.
Pam 1:10
Okay, I'm going to think about it as two-thirds is one-half of a number. I'm going to actually figure out the number.
Kim 1:16
Okay.
Pam 1:16
Two-thirds is half of the number. Then, I got to double it to get the whole number. So, the whole number is four-thirds.
Kim 1:23
Mmhm.
Pam 1:23
But I only want a fourth of 4 anythings.
Kim 1:27
Yep.
Pam 1:27
So, a fourth of four-thirds would be 1/3.
Kim 1:28
Nice.
Pam 1:29
Sweet!
Kim 1:30
Very nice. Alright, we can't wait each week to see what you do. Join us at MathStratChat and let us know how you think about the problems and be everyone's friend and comment on their strategy.
Pam 1:41
Ya'll, Kim, I can't tell you how many times I've heard lately from people who do this in the car with their kids.
Kim 1:47
Oh, that's fun.
Pam 1:48
Super family mathing. So, if you're doing that right now, high five from Kim and me. Like, well done. Love it. Ya'll, we post the problems on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Central time. When you answer, tag me and use the hashtag MathStratChat. Then join us to hear how we're thinking about the problem. We love you. We love you.
Kim 2:04
We love you. We do.
Pam 2:06
We do love you. And thanks for being part of the Math is Figure-Out-Able movement. Math is Figure-Out-Able!